The great Satavahanas exited from the scene of history of South India during the first half of 3rd Century AD, Thereafter, Pallava, Chalukya, Chola, Kakatiya and Vijayanagara dynasties ruled parts and occassionally most part of South India. They partonised all arts and amongst them most importantly temple building. Temple was imagined in a very grand scale and constructed accordingly. Great temple complexes in Kanchi, Tanjore and Gangikonda Cholapuram stand as testimony to temple building in grand scale. Sculptors of Vijayanagara period inherited and borrowed all the fine qualities of their predecessor styles.
Lepakshi – Sri Virabhadra temple (BW)-6
The space between the outer wall (about 25ft in height) and the inner wall (appxly of the same height) and the space within the confines of the pillared verandah attached to the inner-side of the outerwall of Sri Virabhadra temple, Lepakshi, may appear to have been there without any meaning to the present day visitor to this temple. Most of the time they look silent and empty! The temple, however, when conceived was done in a grand scale and the planning, as I understand it, was done in such a way that the visitor shoulg get sufficient time and space to prepare himself and tune himself quite leasurely to face the God in the main temple, with the mindset that is required for praying before God!
Lepakshi – Sri Virabhadra temple (BW)-7
The long strech of space between the outer and inner walls of this temple, which now looks empty, was infact intended to be the purifier and a silent preparer of men and women who would, from there, go on to face God in the main temple, which is only a step away!
Lepakshi – Sri Virabhadra temple (BW)-8
Lepakshi – Sri Virabhadra temple (BW)-9
Lepakshi – Sri Virabhadra temple (BW)-10
chAAyaa viidhi 